Newsletter

Marc Murrell: New electronic permit system to aid hunters on public lands

Dove season opens Monday

Hunters visiting several state-owned wildlife areas will be able to check in and out using a new electronic registration system, rather than filling out a daily paper permit like they have in the past. Known as iSportsman, the new system will save money, provide real-time information and make it more convenient for hunters to visit their favorite wildlife area.

Dove season kicks off Monday morning one-half hour before sunrise. Hunters are reminded that some dove fields on public wildlife areas will require non-toxic shot.

Kansas hunters are used to “checking in” on some of the state’s publicly-owned wildlife areas managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Many of these areas, particularly waterfowl managed properties, have been utilizing a paper system for gathering data for years.

A hunter would take a card from a kiosk, fill out the top portion and leave it in the box. After the hunt, the bottom portion would be filled out with harvest information and possibly other information. The KDWPT hopes to go “electronic” with this system and will try it on a limited number of wildlife areas this fall.

Referred to as iSportsman, these free, daily electronic permits were set to kick off Sept. 1. However, the contractor handling the new system isn’t optimistic it will be totally operational on that date.

“Hunters will still be able to use the paper system,” said Brad Simpson, public lands section chief for the KDWPT. “We’re going to keep the paper system this year, too, just to make sure we get a smooth transition and to give people time to get used to the electronic system.

“And we don’t want people to NOT go hunting because they’re worried about getting registered and (being) in the electronic system,” he added.

The information collected helps wildlife area biologists manage the property and gather harvest data, determine hunting pressure and hunter preferences. The paper system was often labor-intensive, as several kiosks were scattered around the area. Between staff time spent monitoring the kiosks, gathering data and tabulating figures, it was an expense that could be reduced, according to Simpson.

“One of our area managers estimated it will save about $6,000 a year by going to the electronic system,” he said.

While it will be more cost-effective for the KDWPT, it also will be more convenient as data can be gleaned nearly in real time. It will be more convenient for the hunter, too. Many times these kiosks were crowded and it was often dark when trying to fill out the paperwork. The portion carried by the hunter could be lost or get wet making the completion difficult. Now hunters can simply pick up their phone, or report online.

“The biggest amount of time for a hunter will be setting up their account online,” Simpson said. “But that takes only a few minutes, and once they create a password they can access it from any phone — smart or otherwise.

“It should only take a minute or two minutes, tops, to register for a daily hunt permit after that,” he said.

On the chance that a hunter doesn’t have access to a computer (or smart phone, iPad, etc.), they can call the Pratt office of the KDWPT at (620) 672-5911 and get help setting up their account and their initial registration. From there, it’s simply a matter of dialing a toll-free number and running through a menu to select your hunt location, possibly even the prior evening.

The new electronic daily hunt permits hosted by iSportsman will be used at several wildlife areas on a trial basis this fall and next spring. These include Jamestown, Lovewell, Clinton, Elwood, Kansas River, Milford, Cheyenne Bottoms, Texas Lake, Isabel, McPherson Wetlands, Slate Creek Wetlands, Neosho, Melvern and Lyon. A similar system is already in use at Fort Riley.

Hunters can set up their account at any time using their electronic devices at https://kdwpt.isportsman.net. Upon completion of their registration, hunters will obtain their General Access Permit. Once a hunter has registered and obtained a General Access Permit, he or she can log on or call 1-844-500-0825 before they plan to hunt to “check in.” After they’ve finished hunting, the hunter logs on or calls in to report harvest and “check out.” Hunters can check in and out from any computer, smart phone, cell phone or land line.

Simpson said the new electronic check-in system should provide wildlife managers timely and accurate information, as well as saving them time and money and making it more convenient for hunters to use the system.

“We have got some feedback and the only negative is someone that doesn’t have Internet capabilities to get registered for an account the first time,” he said. “But we’ll help them get registered and set up if they call us.

“But overall, the majority of responses have been very favorable and positive to the new system. Once someone goes through the system three or four times, it will become second nature to them and they’ll have it figured out,” he said.

The old method with paper copies will also still be available on these areas to ease hunters into the transition as they find out about the electronic option. The paper cards will be used at least until March 2015 and then likely discontinued.

DOVE SEASON KICKS OFF MONDAY — The Kansas dove season officially begins Monday morning, one-half hour before sunrise. Hunters will flock to their favorite fields as the first major fall 2014 hunting season gets underway. While most dove hunting takes place on private land, there are several publicly owned areas managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism that have fields managed specifically for doves. These have proven popular, and often successful, with hunters all across the state.

Several of these designated dove fields will once again require non-toxic shot for dove hunting this fall.

A complete list of designated non-toxic shot dove fields is available at www.ksoutdoors.com, as well as complete rules and regulations for dove and other fall hunting opportunities.

Hunters are reminded to check doves for bands. Kansas and other Great Plains states have participated in a dove banding project for the last several years, banding thousands of birds. Harvested birds with bands can be reported to a toll-free hotline at 1-800-327-BAND, or online at www.reportband.gov. Hunters can keep the bands and will receive a certificate with information on where and when the bird was banded.